Improvement in presses for stamping lead-pencils



T. HIMULLER. Improvement in Presses for Stamping Lead Pencils.

Patented Feb. 20, 1872.-

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UNITED STATES PATENT Qrrion.

TEILE H. MULLER, OF YONKERS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO JOSEPH BECK-ENDORFER, OF NEW YORK CITY.

IMPROVEMENT IN PRESSES FOR STAMPING LEAD-PENCILS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 123,925, dated February20, 1872.

To whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, TEILE H. MfILLER, of Yonkers, county of Westchester,State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inPresses for Stamping Lead- .Pencils and other Varnished Articles, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to presses for giltstamping varnished surfaces bypressing leaf metal or bronze-powder, by means of a heated die, into thevarnished surface, whether of a wooden lead-pencil or other article andit has reference to the construction of the die-head or stock, and tothe method of heating the same in such manner as to produce and maintainan equable heat, which will cause the die to act with regularity anduniformity, to produce stamps of the desired quality and style. Theobject of heating the die is to soften the varnish to such an extent asto allow the metal leaf or bronze-powder to properly ad here. If the dieis too hot, the varnish melts and even commences to boil, thereby givingan unclean appearance to the stamp and if, on the other hand, the die betoo cold, the metal will not adere to the varnish, and the stamp is notproperly gilded.

The heating of the die has up to the present time been effected invarious ways, each more or less imperfect. Under one arrangement thehead or stock was provided with a hole, into which a heated iron wasslipped. By having a number of these irons, and changing them as theycooled, the die was kept heated. Another arrangement was to heat thediestock or head by means of a gas-burner supported by a bracketattached -to the head, and connected with the gas-supply by flexibletubing, so as to be free to move up and down with the head. By means ofva stop-cock on the gaspipe, the flame could be regulated or shut offwhen necessary, and the lump of metal of which the head was formed actedas a regulator against small variations of temperature. Another mode ofheating has been by the introduction in various ways of steam into thehead. The great defect in these various methods is that in each of themno means are provided for ascertaining with certainty and at once whenthe proper heat is attained, or for determining beforehand the correcttemperature but this can only be judged of and de termined by thequality of the work produced.

It is the main object of my invention to remedy this defect, so as notonly to preserve an equable heat during the process of the work, but toascertain and determine beforehand that is, before the stampingoperation commences-when the die has attained the right heat.

The nature of my invention and the manner in which the same is or may becarried into effect, can best be explained by reference to theaccompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a front elevation of astampingpress, provided with a head or die-stock made in accordance withmy invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is ahorizontal section of the head or stock detached.

While my invention relates exclusively to the means provided for heatingthe die, I have, however, thought it best to represent a completemachine or press for stamping leadpencils, in order to show more clearlythe relations which the head and die bear to the other portions of theapparatus. I will first make a general description of the press, andwill then give more particular attention to that portion of it in whichmy invention is comprised.

The press consists of the frame A, carrying the crank-shaft a, providedat one end with fast and loose pulleys P, and at the other end with acrank-disk, b, having a wrist-pin, c. This crank imparts a verticalreciprocating motion to the die by means of the connecting rod B,jointed to the square sliding bar 0 guided inways d. On the lower end ofthe sliding bar is fastened the head D, to which the die 0 is attached.On thelower part of frame A, under the die, are formed dovetailed waysf, between which is located the piece E carrying the bed g, in which thepencil or other article to be stamped is placed, and capable of slidingvertically in said ways. The slide E at its bottom is provided with asmall lug, h, which fits like a piston in the case 2' containing arubber or spiral spring, j. The bottom of the casing rests on theregulating-screw 70, by turning which the slide E may be raised bodilyto adjust the pencil-bed with reference to the die. The spring j allowsthe slide and bed to yield when the diedescends upon the pencil,permitting the die to remain in contact with the pencil for a suflicienttime to soften the varnish, and enabling the bed to adjust itself to anyslight inequalities in the size or shape of the articles which are beingoperated 011 by the die.

Having given a general description of the press, I will now describemore particularly that portion of it in which my invention is comprised.The die-head or stock D is made of metal, and is cast hollow, with achannel, on, running through it, somewhat like a horseshoe in shape. Toone end of the head is fastened a bracket or block, F, forming part ofthe head, and containing a continuation of this channel, as indicated ata n Upon the top of the block F is secured a tube or reservoir, G, intothe bottom of which the channel n opens through a hole or aperture, a",formed in the top of block F. The channel 12 also opens into thereservoir, but not directly, as in the case of channel a, but through avertical tube, 0, which extends up some distance into the reservoir, asindicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1. Below the tube 0, and directlyunder the rear channel a, is placed a gas-burner, 19, held to the headby a bracket, and communicating with the gas-supply through flexibletubing, which will permit it to rise and fall with the head. In lieu ofthe gas-burner, other suitable means for imparting heat to the rearchannel a may be used. The top of the tube or reservoir G is closed by asuitable cover, through which I insert a thermometer, H, in such mannerthat its bulb or lower part shall be immersed in or surrounded by theliquid or fluid in the reservoir, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig.l. The reservoir G is more especially designed to contain a liquid, bymeans of which the proper degree of heat is imparted to head and thenceto the die. The action of the heat on the head is as follows:

If the reservoir and channeled head be filled with a liquid, (whichshould rise at all times above the top of the small tube 0,) and thenthe gas-burner under the rear channel a be lighted, the liquid in thisplace, becoming heated, and consequently lighter, will rise in the tubeb liquid from the channel m replaces this liquid, and in turn isreplaced by liquid taken from the reservoir G through the openin g M.The liquid will, therefore, circulate continuou sly from the bottom ofthe reservoir into and through the horseshoe channel up through the tube0, and again into the reservoir, a constant circulation being thusmaintained.

By the means described, the following inr portant results are obtained:

First, by selecting liquids the boiling points of which correspond withthe degree of heat needed, in order to operate properly upon therespective material or materials to be worked at the time, the workmanhas only to fill the reservoir with the proper liquid, light the gas,and then wait until the liquid boils without further trial, experimentor delay, he may then proceed to stamp the pencils or other articles tobe operated on. As long as the liquid is kept boiling, the press will befound to work satisfactorily, and the die will be maintained at theproper heat.

Second, by using a thermometer, the liquid may be kept at any desiredtemperature, (oils being used for high and water for low tempera.- tureand the operator is enabled to see any alteration in the temperature,and to rectify it before it becomes great enough to affect the workingof the die.

Rapid circulation is necessary to insure an equal heating of long dies.When the heating is done by a gas-flame applied to a solid head, longdies are heated in the center much more than at the ends; but when acirculating head, such as above described, is used, the hot liquidpasses along the whole length of the die, insuring an equal temperaturethroughout, and consequently an improved appearance of the stamp orimpression.

In the above description of the invention, the heating agent named is aliquid. But in lieu of liquids, air and other iiuids may be used. Incase it is desired to use air, this can. be done by providing a blowercommunicating through a small rubber tube with the upper end of pipe 0.The current of air passing from the pipe 0 into the heated channel abecomes heated, and proceeding through the channeled head will heat thesame. The temperature of the air can be ascertained by means of thethermometer, which will be surrounded by the heated air discharged intothe reservoir from the channel through the opening W. In this case thecirculation is in a direction the reverse of that followed when liquidsare used. An aperture is, of .course, formed in the reservoir for escapeof the air.

Having now described my invention, and the manner in which the same isor may be carried into effect, what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is-- 1. The combination, with the channeled diehead orstock, of a reservoir communicating with said channeled head,substantially as shown and described, to admit of the continuouscirculation through the head of the vari ous liquids that may be placedin the reservoir when subjected to the action of a gas-flame or otherheating agent, as specified.

2. The combination, with the reservoir and die-head or stock,communicating with one another, substantially in the manner hereindescribed, of a thermometer applied to the same, substantially as andfor the purposes shown and set forth.

3. A die-head for stamping-presses, channeled or made hollow to receivea liquid or fluid through, the medium of which the die is heated, incombination with a gas-flame or other heating agent applied to saidhead, for

the purpose of raising the liquid or fluid therein contained to theproper temperature, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I have signed myname to this specification beforetwo subscribing witnesses.

T. H. MULLER.

Witnesses:

LEOPOLD AUSBACHER, A. SoLINeEn.

